randall



(No Model.)

I. S. RANDALL. COVERING FOR ELECTRIC WIRES.

No. 540,687. Patented June 11, 1895.

'IV'jT/VESSE'S [JV Vii/V107? 4 kimzw'd'ammz films; ,9 away/2 M UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANKLIN S. RANDALL, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALE TO HOWARD A. ENGLE, W. I'IOIVARD HOLDEN, AND DILLWVYN P. ROBERTS, OF SAME PLACE.

COVERING FOR ELECTRIC WIRES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 540,687, dated June 11, 1 895.

Application filed January 2, 1894- Serial No. 495,290. (No model.)

To whom it may concern: of the product is necessary to insure the bene- Be 1t known that I, FRANKLIN STREATER ficial results I desire to obtain. RANDALL, a citizen of the United States, re- The product of the carding machine differs siding at Philadelphia, in the county of Philain name in accordance to what the cotton sta- 5o 5 delphia and State of Pennsylvania, have inple is to be used for, but where the product vented certain new and usefulImprovements to be used is in the form of a strip essential in Coverings for Electric Tires; and I do dein the further production of yarn and its techclare the following to be a full, clear, and eX- nical name is sliver, it must pass through act description of the invention, such as will a number of drawing frames receiving after to enable others skilled in the art to which it apeach operation the same name, but the fibers pertains to make and use the same, reference are being separated one from the other and being had to the accompanying drawing, and straightened until it completely loses its idento the letters of reference marked thereon, tity of a strip and becomes but a band of aswhich forms a part of this specification. sociated parallel fibers of staple in which each 15 This invention relates to a means of coverone of the fibers is not dependent upon its ing electric cores, by which a thoroughly fiexineighbor, but virtually independent, destroyble, cheap, insulating sheathing is made to ing every vestige of a strip or band. The evenly surround the metal core to any desired drawing machinery that may be employed disthickness; and the invention consists in the charging it only as a number of thoroughly 20 use of staple of any suitable growth, drawn straightened fibers of staple laid parallel one or combed into a condition in which each of with the other. As before stated the product the fibers of staple are separatelystraightened must be exactly in this condition or as near and in any suitable manner drawn and fed in so as it is practicable to produce it, and until the desired quantity and evenly to the surthis condition is reached, it is not suitable to .25 face of the metal core parallel with its axis. apply to the metal core to secure the valuable The single figure of the drawing represents results claimed. Suitable machinery can these straightened fibers of staple associated then be used to take this product and by drawone with the other to a given thickness and ing it to suit the required amount of thickness surrounding the metal core. of covering deliver it to the wire core. 30 Referring to the drawing a, represents the I am aware attempts have been made to metal core, and I), the covering. utilize cotton staple in the form of bat or To insure a full understanding of what I sliver as they are technically understood have invented it will be necessary to refer to to be conditions of cotton coming from a cardthe special condition in which I use the proing machine, and then fold or wrap the same 5 duct in order to obtain the valuable results around the wire, but the use of such products heretofore referred to. when applied to the Wire produce an uneven As cotton staple is to be preferred by reason and decidedly inflexible covering. The fibers of the present use of already simply devised of staple are still thoroughly entangled and machinery for placing it into the condition the hat or sliver must be folded or 40 required, and when in a purely dry state is an wrapped around the metal core, and when excellent electrical non-conductor, and its exused in either the conditions named possesses tremelowcost,Ishall confine myself toashort definite edges which must produce a seam description of the treatment of cotton staple thatin some manner must be knitted together, after leaving the carding machine, as I am but which cannot be satisfactorily accom- 9o 45 aware that the product of the afore mentioned plished.

machine has been used, the further treatment The condition of the staple as I use it is entirely different. The entanglement of the staple is entirely destroyed and it reaches the metal core upon all its surface entirely free from any scam.

I claim The combination with an electric conductor, of an insulating covering therefor, consisting of straightened fibers, evenly applied parallel with the conductor, the said straightened fibers consisting of sliver which has been 10 drawn longitudinally until the fibers have been rendered parallel.

In testimony whereof I affixeny signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANKLIN S. RANDALL. Witnesses:

WM. B. HILT, LEWIS BROUS. 

